Professor Karmen Toros

Profile

Karmen Toros is Professor of Social Work at Tallinn University, Estonia, and Principal Investigator of the Centre for Advanced Research on Integrity, Rights and Inclusion of the Child (CIRIC). Her research focuses on children’s rights and participation in child protection and social work, with particular attention to how children’s perspectives are heard, understood, and considered in professional practice and decision-making. Her work also examines child–professional relationships, family engagement, and rights-based approaches to child welfare. She has led and contributed to international research collaborations and has published extensively on children’s participation in child protection.

Research

Publications

• Toros, K., & Falch-Eriksen, A. (2025). “I got to say two or three lines”—A systematic review of children's participation in child protective services. Child Abuse & Neglect, 162, 106934.
• Toros, K., & Falch-Eriksen, A. (2025). Solution-focused approach: A way of facilitating children’s participation and understanding children’s experiences, needs, and wishes. Journal of Family Social Work, 28(1), 22–31.
• Toros, K., & Turnell, A. (2026). The Signs of Safety framework in child protection practice: A systematic review. Children and Youth Services Review, 184, 108886.
• Merila, M., & Toros, K. (2026). Listening to the child: Lessons from Estonia’s ‘Out of the Circle’ restorative practice model. International Social Work.
• Falch-Eriksen, A., & Toros, K. (Eds.). (2022). Professional Practice in Child Protection and the Child’s Right to Participate. Routledge.

Expertise